Ukrainian cuisine: overview, features, interesting facts

Ukrainian cuisine is famous for its especially delicious dishes. On the table there are often dumplings made of unleavened dough with a filling of mashed potatoes with onions and scallions or with cottage cheese and dill, with fragrant cherries. Many people love Ukrainian borscht with halushki. In addition to the standard ingredients: cabbage, potatoes, beets and carrots, halushki made of dough are added to it. Such dishes are prepared all over Ukraine. Some recipes are characteristic of certain regions of the country.

Overview and features of Ukrainian cuisine

Some dishes popular in different parts of Ukraine:

• In Transcarpathia, Banosh is prepared almost every day. It is a corn porridge, ideally with sheep sour cream or cream that has been stored in a barn for 3 days. Banosh is cooked over a fire in a cast iron cauldron. Before serving, the porridge is topped with brynza, crackers or porcini mushrooms. It is a very nutritious dish.
• In the east and north of Ukraine, people like to eat deruny or drayniki. These are fritters made of grated potatoes with eggs, onions and a small amount of flour. They are fried in vegetable oil and served with sour cream.
• Kiev-style cutlets are a special delicacy of the capital. They are prepared from soft chicken fillet. Inside them there is butter, spices and herbs. The cutlets are covered with breadcrumbs and deep-fried.
• Poltava halushki are such a favorite dish in that region that they even had a monument erected. Festivals of halushki are held in Poltava. Dough from flour, water and egg is formed into balls or squares. They are boiled or steamed. They are served with sour cream, butter, herbs, scallions, fried onions.
• Sauerkraut cabbage soup is cooked in central Ukraine. According to the classic recipe, it consists of potatoes, onions, carrots, sauerkraut, mushrooms and picnic - pork and beef sausage.
• In the east of Ukraine, cold soup okroshka is often prepared. In summer in the heat, this dish is refreshing. There are many variants of okroshka. Its main ingredients: cucumbers, radish, green onions, kvass. Boiled meat or sausage, various spices, boiled potatoes, etc. are also added.

Interesting facts about Ukrainian cuisine

Some interesting facts about Ukrainian cuisine:

• Kvas is the most favorite traditional drink in the country. The first mention of it is found in documents from 989.
• Borscht is prepared from different amounts and ratios of ingredients. There are 70 recipes of this soup. It is believed that each hostess has a unique borscht.
• The most popular spices are horseradish, anise, cumin, pepper, dill and mint.
• Pork fat is a favorite hearty addition to many dishes. It is salted, pickled or smoked. Lard is eaten with borscht, halushki. All over the country people love to eat lard simply with bread, boiled potatoes and garlic.
• Pampushki with garlic - a very tasty alternative to bread. Especially they are combined with borscht.

The most famous Ukrainian sweet is Kiev cake. Its recipe was developed in 1956. After 2 years, he received a gold award at the confectioners' competition. Although some ingredients in the recipe change, the nut and protein crusts are still made according to the classic technology, which is kept secret.